Red Caps celebrate first grade premiership

New Norfolk I players with the SCA first-grade shield.

NEW Norfolk's first grade cricketers have today celebrated the day on which they should have contested the Southern Cricket Association grand final.

Instead, with the decider cancelled due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, the team gathered at Tynwald Park for a low-key medal presentation.

The SCA decided earlier in the week that the match between New Norfolk and Wellington would not be rescheduled and the premiership was awarded to New Norfolk I by virtue of it having finishing on top of the ladder.

Club president Jamie Hill encouraged his players to enjoy the win, even though they may be disappointed about the circumstances. "We finished on top, we won the first grade T-20 flag [and] second grade was lucky enough last weekend to win the flag as well," he said.

Jamie Hill and Matthew
Bowden tapping feet.

"It was probably one of the more dominant seasons from a club point of view so I just want you to enjoy the day like we did win the game because we deserve it, finishing a game and a half on top of the ladder," he said.

Team captain Matthew Bowden presented premiership medals to the players, who adopted the low-contact foot-tap instead of shaking hands. Hill presented Bowden with his medal and named Jason Rigby as man-of-the-match.

Echoing Hill's remarks, club coach Rigby said no-one at the start of the season would have thought New Norfolk would win the first and second grade titles. "It's a massive effort... I don't know if that's been done before," he said.